Which Corded Vs Cordless Power Tools Brand Wins?
2022 test10 productsPower Tools

Which Corded Vs Cordless Power Tools Brand Wins?

This head-to-head test of 10 corded vs cordless power tools options has the measured results for each. See how they ranked and watch the full test video.

The verdict
Ranked first

Makita (cordless circular saw)

Price shown in test: $170

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The measured results

Every number below is read straight from the test. Products are listed in the order they finished.

Weight

  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    10.55 lb

    (4.78 kg)

  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    11.56 lb

    (5,244 g)

  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    5.3 lb

    (2.38 kg)

  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    4.8 lb

    (2.2 kg)

  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    10.85 lb

    (4.922 kg)

  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    9.855 lb

    (4.47 kg)

  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    3.765 lb

    (1.7 kg)

  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    3.39 lb

    (1.53 kg)

  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested

Noise

  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    87.7 dB
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    97.9 dB
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    89.4 dB
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    91.2 dB
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    92.5 dB

    (transcript literally labels this reading 'corded' but the testing-order pattern used throughout the video for this saw pair indicates it is the cordless saw's reading; flagged as a probable label mismatch, not corrected)

  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    99.3 dB
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    78.3 dB
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    85.6 dB
  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested

Blade stop time

  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    0.75 seconds
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    6.43 seconds
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    0.2 seconds
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    1.36 seconds
  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

Vibration

  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    around90 mm

    per second squared

  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    around260 mm

    per second squared

  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    6 mm

    per second squared

  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    35 mm

    per second squared

  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested
All measurements (39 more)+

Rated motor

  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    6,000 RPM
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    15-A

    motor, 5,800 RPM

  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

Noise (no blade)

  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    92 dB
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    92.4 dB
  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

Cutting speed at 5 lb

  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    1.82 seconds

    average (3 cuts)

  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    1.71 seconds

    average

  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

Cutting speed at 7.5 lb

  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    1.16 seconds
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    1.26 seconds
  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

Cutting speed at 10 lb

  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    0.9 seconds
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    0.8 seconds
  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

No-load RPM

  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    5,766 RPM
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    3,060 RPM
  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

Rated

  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    800

    max watts out, no-load speed 9,000 RPM, claims 1.8 horsepower

  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    11-A

    motor, 11,000 RPM, low-profile gear case, quick-change wheel release

  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

Weight (with Flexvolt battery)

  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    6.8 lb

    (just over 3 kg)

  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    7.3 lb

    (3.3 kg)

  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

RPM

  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    7,462 RPM
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    10,156 RPM
  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

Wheel stop time

  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    1.31 seconds
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    just over5 seconds
  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

Lowest RPM without stalling

  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    22 RPM
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    241 RPM
  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

Stroke length

  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    1-1

    /8 in

  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    1-1

    /4 in

  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

Spec

  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)

    variable speed dial, '3.2 degree angle for faster cutting' (verbatim from transcript, meaning of this spec is unclear, possibly a garbled oscillation-angle figure)

  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    20,000

    oscillations per minute, two-finger variable speed trigger, hex grip microtexture, LED lights

  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested

OSB cut, 7.5 lb

  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    10.2 seconds
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    14.4 seconds
  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested

OSB cut, 10 lb

  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    15.1 seconds

    (extra weight hurt performance)

  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    12.2 seconds

    (extra weight helped)

  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested

Nail cut (four 16-penny nails), 5 lb

  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    34.8 seconds
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    29.7 seconds
  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested

No-load RPM (no blade, fully charged)

  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    5,976 RPM
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

Rebar cut (1/2in rebar, 5 lb pressure, DeWalt cut-off wheel)

  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    7.91 seconds
  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

Torque test rebar grind at 20 lb force

  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    21.86 seconds
  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

Rebar cut (1/2in rebar, 5 lb pressure)

  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    5.42 seconds
  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

Torque test rebar grind (handled 15 lb force)

  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    7 seconds
  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

No-load RPM by gear

  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    0-450

    (1st), 0-1,300 (2nd), 0-2,000 (3rd)

  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

Top RPM (3rd gear)

  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    just over2,000 RPM
  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

Lag bolt driving (three 5-in lag bolts)

  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    1.66 sec

    1.71 sec, 1.68 sec average

  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

Torque test, 1st gear (torque adapter)

  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    502 in-lb

    (almost drove entire 12-in lag bolt)

  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

Torque test, 3rd gear

  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    152 in-lb

    (transcript sentence order for this figure vs the corded drill's 175 in-lb figure is ambiguous, kept verbatim)

  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

Max RPM

  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    up to3,000 RPM

    8.5-A motor

  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

Lag bolt driving average

  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    1.87 seconds
  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

Torque test (torque adapter)

  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    175 in-lb

    (transcript: '175 in lb for the corded drill', immediately followed by a 3rd-gear cordless figure; attribution kept verbatim due to ambiguous sentence order)

  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

4x4 cut with embedded nails, 20 lb weight (mode unspecified)

  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    19.82 seconds
  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

4x4 cut with embedded nails, 15 lb weight

  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    17.74 seconds
  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

4x4 cut with embedded nails, 20 lb weight (retest)

  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    17.44 seconds
  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

4x4 cut with embedded nails, in-line mode, 10 lb

  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    6.79 seconds
  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

4x4 cut with embedded nails, orbital mode, 10 lb

  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    5.82 seconds
  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

4x4 cut with embedded nails, orbital mode, 15 lb

  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    5.21 seconds
  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

4x4 cut with embedded nails, orbital mode, 20 lb

  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    5.77 seconds
  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

Separate retest on a different, personally owned 12-amp Milwaukee corded saw, 20 lb

  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    16.22 seconds
  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

OSB cut (1/2in OSB, Imperial carbide blade), 5 lb

  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    15.2 seconds
  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested
  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

OSB cut, 5 lb

  • 10Ridgid (corded oscillating multi-tool)
    20.8 seconds
  • 1Makita (cordless circular saw)
    not tested
  • 2Makita (corded circular saw)
    not tested
  • 3DeWalt (cordless angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 4DeWalt (corded angle grinder)
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt (cordless hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 6DeWalt (corded hammer drill)
    not tested
  • 7Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel
    not tested
  • 8Milwaukee Super Sawzall (corded reciprocating saw) Super Sawzall
    not tested
  • 9Ridgid (cordless oscillating multi-tool)
    not tested

How it was tested

  • circular saw cutting speed at 5/7.5/10 lb pressure (2x4)
  • angle grinder rebar cutting speed
  • angle grinder torque via rebar grinding
  • drill lag bolt driving speed
  • drill torque via torque adapter
  • reciprocating saw cutting speed through nail-embedded 4x4 (in-line and orbital modes)
  • oscillating multi-tool OSB plunge-cut speed
  • oscillating multi-tool nail-cutting speed
  • weight
  • no-load RPM
  • noise (dB)
  • vibration
  • blade/wheel stop time

Brand head-to-head scoreboards featuring this test

Data notes and caveats

This video is a corded-vs-cordless myth-test spanning FIVE separate tool categories, each its own corded/cordless pair of the SAME brand (Makita circular saw, DeWalt angle grinder, DeWalt hammer drill, Milwaukee reciprocating saw, Ridgid oscillating multi-tool). There is no single overall brand winner; each category has its own local verdict (see product notes), so winner/runnerUp/budgetPick are left null per the per-use-case-favorites rule. Overall closing takeaway from the narrator: cordless tools typically cost more (especially with battery included) but are quieter, vibrate less, and stop faster; corded tools with 10-amp-or-larger motors (circular saw, angle grinder, both reciprocating saws) match or beat cordless on raw work speed, except the drill category where cordless's 3-speed gearbox gave it a clear, explicit win. Flagged ambiguities kept verbatim rather than resolved: (1) a noise-dB sentence pair in the reciprocating saw section literally labels both readings 'corded'; resolved by testing-order pattern to a likely cordless/corded split but not silently corrected. (2) A drill torque sentence ('175 in lb for the corded drill... In third gear, the DeWalt made 152 in lb') has ambiguous attribution between the corded and cordless drill's third gear. (3) A retest of a separately introduced, personally-owned '12 amp Milwaukee corded saw' gives 16.22 seconds at 20 lb, wildly different from the 5.77-second figure for the same weight class earlier for the tested Super Sawzall; both kept, not reconciled. Build note: this video is a strong candidate to be split into five separate corded-vs-cordless category pages given the five distinct tool categories and per-category verdicts.

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